The locality can be better called a safe haven for dogs, as the number of dogs is noticeably increasing day by day at the ‘Jain Temple Colony’ near the Railway station. Dogs from various parts of the city freely roam around the colony without fearing attacks from residents. What makes them fear-free is the firm belief of Jains in ‘Ahimsa Mahavrata’.
Close to 50 dogs are residing peacefully with the people here. “We consider dogs as companions for life since they show love and care,” said Nirmala Ramlal Shah. “When we go out, they accompany us to the gate and wait anxiously until we return,” she shared. On the same lines, Keerthi Bhai said, “From our experience, dogs are trust-worthy animals. Though none of us owns these dogs, they care for all the occupants here.”
‘Jiv Daya’ is a unique fund allotted by the Jain Temple authorities exclusively to take care of the animals here. “Since we believe in the principles of Lord Mahavir, every morning we share what we eat with the dogs,” said a resident, Rajesh Shah. To ensure food and care for the animals, every family in the colony gives a share of the fund.
“As part of non-violence observance, we completely reject meat-eating,” said Devika Rajesh Shah, who was busy preparing food for the dogs in her kitchen. “How can we procure flesh without hurting an animal? Every animal has its own right to live,” she said. Asked how they react when an animal attacks, Devika said that the thought itself is a sin. “Animals will not hurt others unless we cause trouble to them.” No dog bites has been reported from the colony so far, claimed the residents.
